Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 64 No. 1-4, 1994.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Growth of the Church as Construction and Body in Eph 2:19-22; 4:11-16
Mato Zovkić
; Vrhbosanska katolička teologija, Sarajevo, Bosna i Hercegovina
Sažetak
A. Lindemann in his study on concepts of history and eschatology in Eph, associating himself with his master H. Conzelmann says: »Fuer die Theologie des Epheserbriefes ist es gerade entscheidend, doss er keinerlei Entwicklung mehr erwartet; der Leib Christi, d. h. die Kirche, ist 'fertig', und das Verb auksanein drueckt mehr aus, dass diese Kirche nicht 'tote', sondern lebednige ist.« Extant commentaries on Eph and monographs on some key concepts of this deuteropauline letter do not pay sufficient attention to the fact that in 2:19-22 the growth of the Church as a construction and holy temple is Christ's gift and in 4:11-16 it is a permanent commission.
Akrogoniaios in 2:20 should be translated and interpreted as conrerstone, not capstone, because it fits more into the theological perspective of Eph and especially into its concept of growth. Sitz im Leben of construction and holy temple metaphor is the liturgy of initiate Christians where the Holy Spirit brings them together and builds up the whole Church. Auksesomen eis auton ta panta in 4:15 should be interpreted intransitively, pace H. Schlier, G. Howard, J. Ernst and other commentators. As in 2:21 auksanein is surely inttransitive, it is also intransitive in 4:15 because the metaphors are the same and they intermingle. Intransitive auksanein in 4:15 unites this verse to v.13 which talks of Christian adulthood and to v. 14 which depicts hindrances for individual and collective growth.
The idea of growth, denoting a permanent process of Christian maturation, is also present in texts on spiritual progress, like 1:15-19; 3:14-19; 5:1-2.8-14; 6:10-20. These texts and especially mehri katantesomen in 4:13 are signs of a future eschatology in Eph, despite the fact that a realized eshatology predominates in it. The auksesis concept in Eph depicts primarily an inner, intensive and spiritual growth, not an extensive missionary activity. Such concept of growing is conditioned probably by religious and cultural setting of historical readers who lived under constant fear of evil spirits (cf. the studies off H. E. Lona and Cl. E. Arnold).
One can sum up the Eph auksesis concept in the following conclusions:
- Christ the conrerstone enables the Church, consisting of believing Jews and Gentiles, to build herself up and to grow into the dwelling place of God in the Spirit (2:20-22);
- Christ the head provides his ecclesiastical body with ministerial gifts which coordinate the life of the Church and encourage individual believers to contribute to building up of the body (4:11-13);
- Primarily corporate growth which supposes and requires also spiritual growth of individual believers (4.13-14);
- Primarily intensive or inner growth, but extensive or missionary growth not excluded (4: 13; 3:16);
- A donated grace, but also a commissioned task (2:21; 4:15-16);
- Indidvidual contribution and ministerial coordination of the growth should take place en agape as the way and instrument of every building up, under the headship of Christ (4:15-16);
- The growth and building up of the Church is a permanent grace of Christ (2:21) but also a constant duty of all members of the Church (4:16).
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
35038
URI
Datum izdavanja:
25.4.1995.
Posjeta: 1.292 *